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ACTS TODAY | 今日ACTS An update from ACTS College | ACTS 学院近况【05/2019】

Empowered to Disciple: Why I Believe in Discipling

授予能力,培训门徒:为何我信门训培训

One day, a friend asked me why did I leave the pastoral ministry to teach in a lesser known college. I smiled and responded: That‘s a good question! After much pondering, I actually found many good reasons why I should have remained in the pastoral ministry. Yet, I chose to teach and I am still teaching after thirty years because of this conviction: I believe in discipling!

At the risk of oversimplifying, to disciple is to teach others to obey everything that God has taught me. And God has assured me that he will be with me in my teaching till the very end (Matt 28:19–20). Hence, in teaching, I am simply obeying what God has commanded us all to do—to make disciples.

Furthermore, the Johannine concept of God and his love, as stated in John 3:16, is a motivating factor for me doing what I am doing, namely discipling (aka teaching).

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (NRSV)

As John the evangelist declares, it is God who loves the world so much that he initiated the mission to reach his people. Though I am an introvert by nature, it is the sensing of God’s love and compassion for his people that compels me to step out of my comfort zone to venture into discipling through teaching the Bible to others. Meeting, initiating conversation with, and opening up myself to new students from diverse backgrounds every semester is not an easy task for me. Yet, it is so necessary in the discipling process, both within and without the classroom. Nevertheless, God has graciously and faithfully enabled me to disciple through teaching all these years.

Yes, as a teacher, I may not have the joy of telling others what a growing church I have built. But what joy it brings to me whenever I see our alumni actively serving, or hear of them making disciples of all nations. I have certainly chosen the right place to invest my life for the kingdom of God.

I firmly believe in discipling through teaching others. And our vision at ACTS College is to empower you to disciple. You can make it happen by signing up for training at ACTS. Alternately, you can make it happens by partnering with ACTS to empower more leaders to disciple through your generous giving and prayers.

一天,一个朋友问我,为什么我离开教牧事工去一所不太知名的学院教书。我微笑着回答:“这是个好问题!” 经过深思熟虑,我找到了很多为什么我应该留在教牧事工的好理由。然而,我选择了教书,三十年后我仍在教书。就因这个信念,:我相信门徒培训!

冒着过于简单化的风险,培训门徒就是教导别人服从上帝所教导我的一切。上帝也向我保证,他会在我的教导中与我同在,直到最后(太28:19-20)。因此,在教导中,我只是顺服神所吩咐我们做的事,培训门徒。

此外,约翰福音3:16中所述的约翰关于上帝和祂的爱的概念,这是激励我做我所做的事情,即门训(亦称教导)。

【约3:16】“ 神爱世人,甚至将他独一的儿子赐给他们,叫一切信他的人不致灭亡,反得永生。

正如福音传道者约翰所说,上帝如此热爱这个世界,所以他发起了去接触他人民的使命。虽然我天生是一个内向的人,但正是上帝对他的人民的爱和同情,迫使我走出我的舒适地带,冒险通过教别人圣经来进行门徒培训。对我来说,每学期与来自不同背景的新学生见面、开始交谈以及向他们敞开心扉并不是一件容易的事情。然而,无论是在课内还是在课外,这都是很有必要的。然而,这几年来,神恩慈忠信地使我得以通过教导来培训门徒。

是的,作为一名教师,我可能没有告诉别人我建立成长教会的快乐。但当我看到我们的校友积极地事奉,或听到他们培训万国的门徒时,这给我带来了多大的快乐啊。我确实选择了一个正确的地方在上帝的国度ll里投入我的生命。

我坚信通过教导他人来培训门徒。ACTS学院的愿景是让你有能力去培训门徒。你可以通过报名参加ACTS的培训来实现这愿景。或者,你也可以与ACTS 学院携手合作,通过你慷慨的奉献和祈祷,让更多的领袖得到装备。

Without ‘Family’, There Is No ‘Community’ 没有“家庭”,就没有“社群”

In ACTS College, “family” and “community” are synonymous – if not, the same word, just spelled differently. As the name of our school so boldly proclaims, we are a school that strives to emulate the same spirit of community, compassion, care, and love that was so evidently seen in the early church as depicted in the Book of Acts. As such, we believe that though we come from different backgrounds and life experiences, it is not impossible for us to experience the same kind of community that was seen in the early church, today.

On 16 March 2019, ACTS College held its annual family day in Marina Barrage. Students and faculty, along with their respective family members, gathered together to have a day of fellowship and fun. Some alumni, although having graduated a year or two before, decided to visit and join our current students and faculty members in all of the activities. What better way to forge and build up community other than through games! Regardless of “rank” or “hierarchy”, the games and activities allowed both student and lecturer to bond.

The event ended with the celebration of the birthdays of our beloved staff members and a dear lecturer. Certainly, a community cannot be built on mere activities alone. The sharing of food and time together in simple meals are truly essential in forming a lasting and strong community. Much like a glimpse of the early church in Acts 2, ACTS Family Day ended with everyone (both young and old, lecturer and student) eating their food “with gladness and simplicity of heart.”

在ACTS学院,“家庭”和“社群”是同义词——如果不是,同义,只是拼写不同。正如我们学校的名字如此大胆地宣称,我们是一所致力于效仿社群、同情、关怀和友爱的学校,正如《使徒行传》中所描述的早期教会,这一点是如此明显。因此,我们相信虽然我们来自不同的背景和生活经历,但我们并非不可能体验到今天早期教会所见的社群。

2019年3月16日,ACTS学院在滨海堤坝举行了一年一度的家庭日活动。学生和教员,连同他们各自的家庭成员,聚在一起,享受一天的团契和乐趣。一些校友,虽然已经毕业一两年前,决定参加我们现有的学生和教员的所有活动。除了通过游戏,还有什么更好的方法来打造和建立社群呢?无论任何级别,游戏和活动都允许学生和讲师建立关系。

活动以我们敬爱的同工和讲师的生日庆祝结束。当然,一个社群不能仅仅建立在活动上。在简单的膳食中共享食物和时间对于形成持久和强大的社区至关重要。就像使徒行传2章中对早期教会的一瞥,ACTS家庭日以每个人(包括年轻人和老年人,讲师和学生)“快乐而简单地”食用他们的食物而告终。

How have you been benefited since studying in ACTS?

Studying in ACTS has been an eye-opening experience. With classmates from different walks of life and various church backgrounds, we interact and relate as one universal body of Christ, spurring one another on toward love and good deeds. The emphasis on collaborative learning means plenty of opportunities to grow together and platforms to know one another more. Working together, we complement one another's strengths and help one another in our weaknesses. Our lecturers are well-versed in their areas of expertise and they impart not just content, but the spirit of being a Christian minister. They generously share their lives and experiences with us.

Interview with student Chloe Tang

How have you been benefited from small group?

Small group has been such a blessing for me. Getting to know more fellow-students in ACTS and also hearing how God has moved in their lives was very inspiring because it also spoke into the situations in my life. Most importantly, when we prayed for one another, I truly felt strengthened in my spirit and was encouraged to keep walking in faith.

Interview with student Elika.

Empower leader to succeed

The three-year training I received from ACTS Bible College has unexpectedly prepared me for ministry. Last year, I was given an overseas work assignment as a Country Head for a regional company in Cambodia. The local church I attended in Cambodia had a need for the preaching ministry and I was asked to take up a monthly preaching assignment to assist them. I am thankful that I was able to put into practice what I have learnt in ACTS to minister to the Khmer congregation. It empowered and gave me the confidence to deliver the Word of God effectively in Cambodia.

Silas Tan, Alumnus 2016

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR UPCOMING TRIP

After thirty years of teaching Greek with what Bill Mounce calls “standard” or Erasmian pronunciation, I will finally get to hear Greeks talking to one another in Modern Greek. I have been invited to present a paper at the Global Forum of Theological Educators in Crete, Greece. This forum will be held from May 20–24, and will be attended by theological educators from different parts of the world and every Christian tradition. The 45-minute presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session. I think I have prepared adequately for the presentation but I am not a person who can think on my feet. And, when I close my eyes, I do not see the deep blue Aegean Sea. Instead, I see a sea of nameless faces. Also, I have heard one too many stories of travel gone wrong. Hence, here are my prayer requests:

1. Journey mercies and smooth transitions throughout this trip

2. Confidence when presenting and answering questions

3. Positive learning experiences from interactions with other theological educators

Thank you for travelling with us through your prayer support!

Sis Davina Soh- Ng

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR FACULTY

Inline with our college vision and mission, to develop a global learning community that will empower leaders to succeed in transforming lives and society. Our faculty are actively blessing the community of faith through teaching and equipping.

Bro David Lim will be conducting Developing Expository Sermons workshop for Riverlife church in May.

Rev Andrew Ong will be teaching Hermeneutics at Cebu Faith School of Antioch in May.

洪国雄牧师在五月将到砂劳越蒙福教会教导婚姻与家庭。

Bro Isaac Wong will be teaching at Cebu Faith School of Antioch during June holidays.

秀琴姐妹将在六月假期为撒冷宣道所儿童生活营教导。

ACTS RETREAT退修营 2019

ACTS Retreat 2019 will be such a time of refreshing. As we retreat ourselves from our busyness, 4 days 3 nights at Swiss Inn Hotel (17-20 July 2019), we will enjoy a deep fellowship with God in worship and prayers, be revived by powerful sharing by camp speaker, and get many memorable moments with the Acts Community as we have fun together as a family. Join now!
ACTS 退修营2019将是一个令人耳目一新的时刻。在Swiss 酒店(2019年7月17日至20日)的4天3夜的退修时,我们将在敬拜和祈祷中与上帝保持深厚的团契,通过营会讲员的大力分享,将获得许多难忘的回忆,因为我们是一个家庭,一起享受乐趣。现在加入!
Apply Now: http://acts.edu.sg/post-graduate-studies-doctor-of-ministry/

You are encouraged to join us. 欢迎参与我们校友团契与交流会。

4月22-23日的《灵程日引》,众人给予的回应是「王牧师,太棒了!」是的,太棒了。看似非常熟悉的「灵修」,却带给众人新领悟,复兴众人对「灵修」的热忱。黄伟豪牧师的教导,启发了众人当如何每天完成十章经卷的灵修生活,改观过往以为「灵修」只不过是读经祷告,补足灵命的增长;其实上帝是透过我们的日常灵修生活,启示和指引我们的灵程,光照我们个人生活的问题,并与祂的生命关系。7月8-9日《非凡的事奉方式》教导牧者是灯塔的黄耀基牧师,相信这课程将会启发我们事奉不是单单完成一项教会所托的属灵任务,而是当如何以这似乎不以为意的岗位成为《非凡的事奉样式》。

ACTS -School of Supernatural Ministry (A-SSM) is having the 5th Intensive Workshop from 1 July to 6 September 2019 at Eternal Life Assembly, Bukit Timah Shopping Centre.

Offered under ACTS College, the non-accredited programme aims to enable Christians to be aware of the Supernatural realm and move in the power of the Holy Spirit. Since its launch in 2015, more than 500 participants from 90 over churches have enrolled in one or more workshops. Over the last four years, many of the attendees have had their gifts activated and strengthened during the workshops.

Every year, there are testimonies of miracles, healings and supernatural happenings. Last year, one of the speakers who did not know Cantonese prayed in the language, while another attendee testified that she saw the word “joy” written on her palm during a workshop. The many signs and miracles attest to God’s presence during the workshops.

Registration has started for the 23 workshops that are commencing on 1st July. A certificate of Attendance will be issued to those who have attended at least 20 workshops.

This programme is offered at no cost to participants.

The enrolment form and programme schedule can be downloaded here:

Testimonies from our scholarship and bursary recipients 奖学金与助学金得主的见证

Contribute 贡献

ACTS College Ltd is a non-profit college that depends largely on the generosity of supporters and well-wishers. We subsidise seventy per cent of the tuition fees of each student. By investing in ACTS, you are contributing to our mission in empowering leaders to succeed in transforming lives and society.

ACTS学院是一所非盈利学院,完全依靠爱心人士的慷慨奉献。我们资助每一位学生学费的70%。透过您的爱心奉献,您为我们装备领袖去转化生命和社会的使命出一份力。

You can now donate anytime, anywhere 现在你可以随时随地捐助

Kindly tap PayNow to ACTS College Ltd (UEN: 201422314G) or scan QR code below together with your name as “Reference No.” and email “adminmanager@acts.edu.sg” for receipt.

请点击PayNow 到ACTS College Ltd(UEN:201422314G)或扫描以下的二维码以及您的姓名作为“参考编号”并发电邮至“adminmanager@acts.edu.sg”获取收据。

To donate scan PayNow QR Code 扫描二维码捐助
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